Thoracolumbar junction translation injury in a patient with ankylosing spondylitis, a case report

This case report describes a 47-year-old male with a history of spinal tuberculosis and ankylosing spondylitis who sustained a thoracolumbar junction translation injury after a motorbike accident. Due to the patient's pre-existing spinal deformity and incomplete spinal cord injury, the decision was made to manage the fracture conservatively with a thoracolumbar corset rather than surgical intervention. After a year of conservative management, the patient reported improvements in pain and motor function, although radiological changes were not observed.

• 1
  The patient presented with back pain, radiating pain to both limbs, severe spasms, numbness, and weakness in his lower extremities after a motorbike accident.
• 2
  Radiological imaging revealed a translation injury at T12/L1 with burst fractures of vertebral bodies from T9 to L1, and a diagnosis of Spinal Cord Injury, ASIA C was made.
• 3
  Conservative management with a thoracolumbar corset and physiotherapy resulted in improved pain levels and motor function in the lower limbs after one year, despite no observed radiological changes.